Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Latent Tobamovirus Infecting Hevea Brasiliensis in China

Abstract In this work, we describe the complete sequence and genome organization of a novel tobamovirus detected in rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) by high-throughput RNA-seq. The infected plants show no identifiable symptoms, therefore this virus is tentatively named rubber tree latent virus 1 (RTLV1). The full genome of RTLV1 is 9,422 nt in length and contains three open reading frames (replicase, movement, and coat proteins) with 157 nt 5' UTR and 316 nt 3' UTR. The replicase encoded by ORF1 shares only 33.29% amino acid sequence identity with that of the closest related Frangipani mosaic virus. Phylogenetic analysis using the ORF1 amino acid sequence clusters RTLV1 with members of genus Tobamovirus (family Virgaviridae) at relative high bootstrap, suggesting that RTLV1 is a novel member of Tobamovirus.